Steve Israel: Absurdity surrounds Scouts' delayed vote

Friday

Feb 8, 2013 at 2:00 AM

Growing up in Bayonne, N.J., I didn't know that two of my pals were gay.

Steve Israel

Growing up in Bayonne, N.J., I didn't know that two of my pals were gay.

All I knew was that they were great guys. George was a blast in Mrs. Scalfane's high school French class, really laying on the French accent. While some kids picked on the so-called nerds, George always seemed to have a smile for them — and for all the girls in the class, even the ones who weren't really popular.

Larry was one of the smartest guys I knew, the first to raise his hand in Miss Finnegan's honors history class. Always quick-witted, with a sparkle in his eyes. But what I remember most about him was how fiercely protective he was of his brother — a boy with a slight speech impediment whom others often mocked. I haven't been in touch with either of the guys for decades, which is why I changed their names.

Both Larry and George were, I believe, Boy Scouts. I even think Larry made Eagle Scout.

I doubt that anyone back then knew that they were gay. In fact, it was only years later, long after I'd left Bayonne, that I learned they were gay.

It didn't make a difference then, and still doesn't.

And why should it?

They were just boys.

Would they have molested other boys?

Would they have tried to convert them?

The questions — rhetorical, really — are so absurd, I'm almost embarrassed to pose them.

It's also absurd that the Boy Scouts of America won't admit gay boys or leaders. The private organization just dodged the issue by putting off a vote on it until May. Even when — or if — the Boy Scouts do confront it, the decision to let gay boys or men participate will still be left up to local chapters, which is also absurd.

Boys and men should be admitted to the Boy Scouts, regardless of their sexuality.

I mean, what do the leaders think will happen?

Again, I'll ask those absurd rhetorical questions.

Would gay boys or men molest other boys?

Would they try to convert them?

Maybe the question should be posed this way:

If boys and girls belonged to the Scouts, would the boys molest the girls?

Would the girls convert the boys into sissies?

Shouldn't we all enjoy the equal rights that are guaranteed under the Constitution?

Fortunately, most Americans agree that all boys should be admitted to the Scouts, regardless of sexuality — by a margin of 55 percent to 33 percent, according to a new Quinnipiac poll. The numbers to admit all boys is 49 percent to 39 percent for men and 61 percent to 27 percent for women.

It's time for the leadership of the Scouts to get with the rest of America. It's time for those leaders to remember that the name of the organization is Boy Scouts. That means all boys.